First pizza, then cheesesteaks. Now West Chester food guy Speer Madanat is opening Ice Cream West Chester

First, it was pizza. Then it was cheesesteaks. Next, it will be dessert.

Speer Madanat, whose Pizza West Chester and Steaks West Chester are the toast of the Chester County seat, is getting into ice cream. He said he signed a lease for the former Juice Pod at 14 N. Church St., three blocks from the pizzeria. He is working on recipes with Aaron Longenecker, a consultant who works for Taylor, an equipment manufacturer, and lectures at Penn State Berkey Creamery.

Madanat said Ice Cream West Chester is expected to open in May, after he enlarges the storefront’s front windows to make it more inviting.

“We have two gelato spots in town — Gemelli and D’Ascenzo’s — which are phenomenal,” Madanat said. But his house-made product will be different: Ice Cream West Chester will offer soft-serve and custard, plus shakes and sundaes.

Madanat, 45, who grew up in Coatesville, has been in the Chester County pizzeria game since 1996. His first West Chester shop opened on East Market Street in late 2021 with simply a sign reading “Pizza,” quirky hours, and a pizza-only menu. It also had no phone or website. Cognoscenti noticed, however. It now has set hours — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then 4:30 to 7 p.m. weekdays, and 11 a.m. till sellout on Saturdays.

Steaks West Chester opened last fall five blocks from Pizza West Chester in a strip mall to similar acclaim. Its menu of steak sandwiches and fries was recently expanded to include hoagies.

Madanat’s heart remains in pizza, though.

“I still make every one,” he said. “I love that I have a relationship with the customers.”